Wandering Eyes

Temptation is a big theme just about everywhere – from Adam and Eve to nearly every movie set in Las Vegas (it’s called Sin City for a reason). It is there, 24/7 and sometimes it is hard to ignore. For some of us, temptation is that second slice of chocolate cake that we know we shouldn’t have or the desire to buy something we shouldn’t (damn you Jimmy Choo!). While, others are drawn to vices like gambling, sneaking cigarettes, or perhaps drinking a bit too much once in awhile (damn you Magners!). Then, of course, there is that visual allure of how someone looks that can make your pulse race. I recall, with great fondness, that scene in Thelma & Louise, where Brad Pitt shows up looking like the sweetest version of the Marlboro Man (yes, I know it’s wrong to fantasize about the cancer-inducing cig smoking Marlboro Man but alas, the temptation is too great!). Oh dear, I thought at the time as my eyes ogled him in, in great, great gulps. Thankfully, I was in a darkened movie theater with girlfriends and not out on a date. But how would I have responded if I had been? Would I have been able to keep my cool (and drool) to a minimum? I like to think that if I was with a guy I was really into, then I would have kept my eyes from devouring Brad Pitt. Because I know from firsthand experience how not good it feels to be on a date with Mr. Wandering Eyes.

Tate was cute in a way that reminded me of old Leave it to Beaver reruns. There was something very Wally about him. He worked as a computer engineer and still found time to help his nearby family out with installing fences and running the odd errand. One of our dates found us sitting on a bench in Central Park in the fall with hot cocoa. It was idyllic – the sun was shining, the golden and red leaves danced in the wind, and his kiss took my breath away.
When we started walking again, we fell behind a group of girls one of whom was wearing the coolest purple shoes that I’d ever seen. As they turned onto a different path, Tate asked, “Did you see that?” Yes, I replied and mentioned the shoes. He shook his head said, “No, she was wearing the shortest skirt.” My stomach flipped and I fought the sudden urge to fling cooled cocoa in his face.

Jerry was devilishly handsome in a GQ kind of way. With his chiseled jaw, smoldering eyes and runner’s body women usually noticed him (coming and going - couldn’t resist adding this!). He also had an ego the size of Texas. On what would be our last date, we went to a bar where my friend Todd bartended. As we wound our way through the crowd to get drinks, I could see gals checking Jerry out and could feel his eyes linger here and there. When we finally reached Todd, Jerry joked with him, “Hey, if things don’t work out, do you think you could fix me up?” Excuse me, I could hear my mind shriek. He said it with a flash of his model white teeth but I knew right then that this was it. *Important note – if a guy says the phrase, “If things don’t work out…” it is a BIG red flag that things will not ever work out.*

The good news is that not all men are like this – Thank God! Take for instance, a man who I refer to as Rhett because he was severely, devastatingly, fling me over your shoulders and carry me up the stairs handsome. On one of our dates as the hostess batted her eyelashes and all but sat in his lap to try to get his attention, his eyes never wavered from mine. Perhaps he was really into me or maybe I had something stuck in my teeth but whatever the reason, it made me feel grateful and good about my carefully applied smoky grey eye shadow. Oh, and, I desperately desired to fling myself across the table and kiss him until his eyes crossed. BUT, I resisted temptation.